COMMUNITY NEWS for January 23 issue

January 23, 2014

LAHAINA - The Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, in collaboration with the West Maui Fire Task Force, will hold community input meetings to help develop a West Maui-focused Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).

Meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Lahaina Civic Center from 1 to 2 p.m. and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 23, at Wailuku Community Center from 1 to 2 p.m. and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Jan. 28, in the Kapalua Village Center Conference Room from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, Jan. 29, at Waihee Elementary School from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Article Photos

Lahainaluna High School students (from left) Kainoa Reponte, Sophia Fredy and Kimberly Yap are the home base video team for the HIKI NO broadcast “Historic Lahaina Restorations” airing statewide on Thursday, Jan. 23, at 7:30 p.m. on PBS Hawaii Channel 11. Between each news segment, students will introduce one of Lahaina’s historic restorations. Viewers will see six buildings inside and out. The program will end at Lahainaluna’s Native Hawaiian Plant Garden. According to LHS teacher Nancy Young, “Other West Side schools regularly contribute to HIKI NO. It is a wonderful resource for our students, teaching them real world skills and holding them to high network broadcast standards.”

Maui Preparatory Academy’s Middle School Science Olympiad Team recently triumphed once again in the Middle School Division against ten other teams. The team will now begin preparing for the state competition in early March. In 11 total events, Maui Prep students earned one first place, five second place, four third place and one fifth place finish. The team includes (from left): back row — Coach Carrie DeMott, Griffin Sagar, Jessica Kingwell, Cassidy Otto, Danielle Bergson, Jalila Samari and Lexie Leon; front row — Jonah Bluh, Logan Twigg, Kassidy Howeth, Chloe Chin, Jerone Samari, Griffin Gibson and Coleman Kingwell.

On the Opening Day of the 2014 Legislative Session last week, members of the Lahaina-Honolua Senior Citizens Club visited Rep. Angus McKelvey at his office.

West Maui Pet Supply in Emerald Plaza, 118 Kupuohi St., Unit C-1, is once again open six days a week to serve pet owners and lovers. Hours of operation for January are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and beginning Feb. 15, the store will be back to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Home delivery is also available. West Maui Pet Supply serves only the very best in premium pet nutrition for dogs, cats, small animals and birds. For more information, visit westmauipetsupply.com or call 667-2662.

The Tex-Mex rock band Los Lonely Boys will perform in the Castle Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Friday, Jan, 24, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for this rip-roarin’ concert are $35, $45, $55 or $65, plus applicable fees. For more information or tickets, call the MACC Box Office at 242-SHOW (242-7469) or purchase them online at www.MauiArts.org.

The West Maui CWPP meetings will identify and prioritize projects to reduce the threat of wildfire to West Maui communities. All full- and part-time residents are encouraged to attend the meetings.

LAHAINA - Tickets are now on sale for Pacific Whale Foundation's first annual Benefit Dinner Cruise with Greg Kaufman on Saturday, Feb. 8.

An early pioneer in whale research, a "save the whales" activist since the 1970s, and author, Kaufman is one of the world's leading authorities about humpback whales. He is also the founder and executive director of Pacific Whale Foundation.

The two-hour cruise departs Lahaina Harbor at 5:30 p.m. and features appetizers, drinks and cocktails, a chef-prepared four-course dinner, desserts and coffee.

The evening includes engaging discussions by Kaufman about humpback whales of Hawaii, Ecuador, Australia and other parts of the world and his four decades of work with whales.

All guests are guaranteed outdoor seating on the upper deck and bow of a smooth-riding, double-deck catamaran.

All profits will support Pacific Whale Foundation's research, education and conservation efforts. Each guest will receive a matted whale photo autographed by Kaufman.

Tickets are $150 per person. Pacific Whale Foundation Members save 20 percent. Book online at www.pacificwhale.org and save 10 percent. For additional information, call the foundation at 249-8811, extension 1.

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Donate old glasses at Lions event

KAHULUI - Hawaii Lions ask people to look through dresser drawers and closets for used eyeglasses and hearing aids, then donate them to the "Lions Recycle For Sight" program.

The Maui collection site is Lens Crafters at Queen Ka'ahumanu Center on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The glasses will be distributed to those in need within developing countries, where eye care is often unaffordable and inaccessible.

The glasses will be cleaned, categorized by prescription and prepared for distribution by Lions, Leos and other groups. According to the World Health Organization, the eyesight of approximately one-fourth of the world's population can be improved through the use of a corrective lens.

In addition to the eyeglasses, hearing aids will be also collected, cleaned and tested for local distribution.

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Singing class set

MAKAWAO - "Singing with Courage," a workshop with Jon Arterton, will be held from Feb. 3-7 at Makawao Union Church.

WAILUKU - The Committee on the Status of Women (CSW) announced that it is now accepting nominations for its "Women of Excellence" awards program.

This year's program celebrates "women of character, courage and commitment," aligning with the national theme observing Women's History Month. Nominees will be selected based on their demonstrated courage, vision and commitment to women and their contributions to the betterment of life within the County of Maui.

Five Maui County women will be honored in the following categories: Young Woman of Promise (14-21 years old), Woman of Excellence (21 years and up), Unsung Hero, Honorary Historical Award (Posthumous) and Career Achievement.

Nomination forms are available online at www.mauicounty.gov/CSW under "Additional Information." The deadline for nominations is 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7. Nominees and winners will be recognized at an event on March 27. For more information, call 870-0053.

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Volunteers sought for service trip

HALEAKALA - The Friends of Haleakala National Park seeks volunteers for a service project in Haleakala Crater on Presidents' Day weekend, Feb. 15-17.

Participants will hike into the crater and stay free in Holua Cabin, working on protection of native plants while also enjoying the beauty of the crater wilderness.

The park entrance and cabin fees are waived for participants doing service work with the Friends of Haleakala National Park. A maximum of 12 persons can be accommodated on each trip. Volunteers must be physically fit and able to hike in and out of the crater at altitude, carrying a share of the food as well as their personal items, including a sleeping bag.